What is Ben Franklin’s Junta?

I’ve entered the Leadership Development Program in my County. It’s a ‘slim’ version of Ben Franklin’s Junta. Do you know if there is a specific publication on the Junta and its work? (Franklin has always been my hero — and I’d like to be involved in the upcoming celebration of his birth but have as yet found no avenue to do so.)

Ah, what a delightful question that takes me far away from the bits and bytes of computer operating systems and back into the past, to rendezvous with one of the most innovative people involved with the founding of our nation. A inveterate tinkerer and inventor, Ben Franklin had an astonishingly wide range of interests, from political systems to power systems, writing and printing technologies to abolitionist, and was apparently quite a charming and amusing companion too.
But let’s get specific! A junta, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a body of persons acting towards a common aim, especially a political clique or faction after a revolution. Hmm… you can see why this might have caught Franklin’s attention in the late 1700’s, somehow.
Here are some snippets from around the Web:
“Active in the community, [Franklin] founded a discussion group called the Junta (1727) that evolved into the American Philosophical Association and helped establish the first U.S. lending library (1731), as well as an academy (1751) that evolved into the University of Pennsylvania.” [src]
“The Junta was a modern day network group founded by Franklin to create ties with serious business connections. It’s the same thing author of Think and Grow Rich, Napolean Hill called a “Mastermind” group. ” [src]
This pair of quotes allows us to transition into the material you actually seek, I’m sure, not a historical essay. The following explanation of a Junto or Mastermind group comes from “Tom Terrific” at the Speakernet News Web site:
“One of the games which trainers use to teach teamwork is to give a puzzle to a group. Initially, each person has to work separately in coming up with the answer. When the time is up, the trainer asks for a show of hands on how many people solved the entire puzzle. Usually, no one raises their hand. The puzzle is too tough. Some people have figured out part A, some people have figured out another section, but no one person solves the entire puzzle. Then the trainer allows the entire group to work on the puzzle together. The group starts talking, exchanging ideas, sharing theories and before you know it, the puzzle is solved.
“This basically is the idea behind the Junto. A group of people working together, thinking and sharing ideas. The group can help you see solutions and possibilities you may have never thought of before. The group can also be supportive, caring and encouraging of your individual goals.
“The name Junto comes from Benjamin Franklin. In his autobiography, he says, “I had formed most of my ingenious (clever) acquaintances into a club for mutual improvement. Our club, the Junto, was found so useful and afforded such satisfaction to the members, that several were desirous of introducing their friends.” His Junto helped start the first library system in the United States. He also presented a paper to the Junto on the necessity of starting a fire company to handle the fires in the community. From this start in the Junto, one of the first volunteer fire companies in America was established.
“One of the interesting “laws” of Benjamin Franklin’s Junto was that members were “forbid the use of every word or expression in the language that imported a fixed opinion, such as certainly, undoubtedly, etc.” One of the tenets of the club is “you don’t know it all” and that you can see more clearly by using the eyes, ears and minds of many people.”
There’s more on the site, and apparently at least one book on this subject, though I can’t find much reference to it at Amazon, though it’s probably discussed in Ben Franklin’s 12 Rules of Management.
Fascinating stuff, and I’d love to participate in a Junto or Mastermind group myself, honestly.
Good luck to you!

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3 comments on “What is Ben Franklin’s Junta?”

Ben Franklin’s Junto (this is how I have always seen it spelled) is a fascinating concept and one that I am very jealous of. I have read a couple of book’s on Franklin and spend most of my spare time reading about the founding fathers and, more specifically, their passion for the seperation of church and state. I am 18 years old and getting ready to start college. Most fraternities are nothing more than an excuse to drink, these days, and I can do that on my own time if I choose to. However, something like this would fill a huge void for me simply because as an 18 year old, I have no one my age who is remotely interested, and if they are they haven’t verbalized it. Just wanted to comment.

I would love to find one in my area.
Benjamin Franklin was an incredible man! I have tried to bring him back to life with a “Fresh Look” of Ben. A NEW portrait I have just completed in honor of his 300th birthday. My portrait was used for the New Town Seal of Franklin, MA; the first town to name themselves in his honor.
It is a Realist painting technique that dates back to the Renaissance time. Ben Franklin’s eyes will follow you around the room much like the Mona Lisa.
you can check it out on my site.

DAVE YOU WROTE-
“Fascinating stuff, and I’d love to participate in a Junto or Mastermind group myself, honestly.”
Dave, you are right, if is fascinating stuff, and if you ever can get into a mastermind group/system that works most people find they NEVER leave it, because it is so powerful and beneficial.
Nice write up and summary of Franklin mastermind group which he called a Junta. I started one that worked fabulously in the early 70’s in Minnesota. Learned from our mistakes and started a 2nd one in the late 70’s in Texas that is still going strong and serving it’s members fabulously. -Write me— John@SmileWorld.com
– John, serious mastermind enthusiast, Texas